Noble sees possible 250 MMcfd well rates off Cyprus

Noble Energy Inc., having tested a stepout more than 4 miles from its A-1 discovery well offshore Cyprus, said performance modeling indicates that development wells in the reservoir should have the capacity to deliver as much as 250 MMcfd of gas.

The company tested the A-2 well on Block 12 at a maximum rate of 56 MMcfd of gas limited by surface equipment capacity. The company ran the test over a 39-ft section of the 120 ft of net natural gas pay that the well encountered in the targeted Upper Miocene sand reservoir.

Evaluation of drilling data, wireline logs, and reservoir performance information resulted in an updated estimate of the gross field resource of 3.6 to 6 tcf with a mean of 5 tcf. The Cyprus A structure represents the third largest field discovered to date in the deepwater Levant basin, Noble Energy said.

A group led by Noble drilled the A-2 appraisal well to 18,865 ft in 5,575 ft of water.

Keith Elliott, Noble Energy’s senior vice-president, Eastern Mediterranean, said, “While the A-2 location has successfully defined the northern area of the discovery, we anticipate additional appraisal activities are necessary to further refine the ultimate recoverable resources and optimize field development planning.

“In the meantime, we continue to identify and advance multiple development options. In addition to the Cyprus A discovery, we are also encouraged about the further exploration potential in Block 12. We have recently completed a 1,100 sq mile 3D seismic acquisition, which will be interpreted over the next several months.”

Block 12 interests are Noble Energy operator with 70% and Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration 15% each.

When operations off Cyprus are complete, Noble Energy will move the Ensco 5006 semisubmersible to Tamar SW off Israel. The Tamar SW well, testing an exploratory prospect offsetting giant Tamar field, is expected to reach total depth by the end of 2013. Noble Energy operates Tamar SW with a 36% working interest.